Right-hander Justin Duchscherer has reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract that would keep him with the Oakland Athletics, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been finalized. Duchscherer’s deal is pending a physical, so an announcement by the team might not come until after Christmas.
A two-time All-Star, the 32-year-old missed all of the 2009 season because of an elbow injury and was treated for clinical depression. He has spent the last six of his seven major league seasons with Oakland, becoming a full-time starter for the first time in his career during 2008. He went 10-8 that year with a 2.54 ERA while pitching a career-high 1412/3 innings.
Duchscherer earned his second All-Star selection in 2008 and certainly is hoping for a successful return to baseball come 2010.
Having Duchscherer back will add a key veteran presence to a young rotation that featured mostly rookies this past season, including highly touted Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill.
Park sues Kreuter
Chan Ho Park has sued his former Dodgers battery mate Chad Kreuter, accusing him of failing to fully pay off a $460,000 loan.
Park filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming breach of promissory note and negligent misrepresentation.
The suit claims Park loaned Kreuter – a former Seattle Mariner – $460,000 in October 2005 to be repaid a year later with interest. Park alleges Kreuter paid back $290,000 in April 2007 and the unpaid balance has grown, with interest, to $281,869.73 as of Dec. 1.
Angels add Rodney
Reliever Fernando Rodney has signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels.
The 32-year-old right-hander spent his first seven major league seasons with the Detroit Tigers, including the last two years as their closer. He converted 37 of 38 save opportunities last season, pitching a career-best 75 2-3 innings.
Short hops
RelieverMatt Capps reached a preliminary agreement on a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the Washington Nationals. Capps can earn an additional $425,000 in performance bonuses for games finished under the deal. ... Stan Benjamin, a Houston Astros scout for nearly 40 years, has died. He was 95.
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